New Black Limba body for old Kramer Bass

Jeff, a bassist in the L.A. area, has an old Kramer bass that he just loves, and over the years he has done quite a few modifications to the original body to get it to his liking. Originally an Explorer body desing, it has been reshaped and refinished several times, pickup configurations changed, etc.

I spoke with Jeff quite a bit on the phone dicussing ideas, wants and don't wants for a new body. He had already worked up a new body design that he wanted, but wasn't sure of what body wood would be best. Based on these conversations I suggested a new black limba body, and referred him to Larry at Gallery Hardwoods to help him pick out the exact pieces for the new body. Jeff picked out and purchased a really nice set of bookmatched black limba from Larry, and shipped them to me for creating the new body. I quoted Jeff a price of $100 for me to make the new body, getting it completely ready for final assembly and finishing (Jeff is going to finish it himself, with a Tung oil or similar oil finish).

I also asked Jeff to send me the original neck, body, and electronics to allow me to route the new body for the existing hardware and neck to ensure that I can get them to fit perfectly.

Here are some pics of the project in process (updated 10 November 2003):


The current body with neck


The current body, front detail


The current body, back detail


The new body design, Jeff's original full scale drawing


The body blank, planed down to proper thickness, clamped and glued.


The original customer design, and the MDF template made from the design. The countersunk screw holes are for mounting the template to the body blank for using the pattern cutting router. The pattern is mounted to the body blank with 3/8" woodscrews where the pickups and neck pocket will be routed.


The pattern traced onto the body blank, ready for the saw.


Two thin strips cut from the body blank on the table saw, to be used for laminates on the control cavity cover, and for a possible headstock laminate.


Body blank cut out, ready for the pattern routing.


MDF pattern mounted to the blank, now to the routing table!


The finished body blank, ready for additional routing and finishing.


Finished routing the j-bass style bridge pickup.


The new p-bass pickup template I recently bought from a luthier supply house looked a bit big to me, so I decided to check it on the old body and pickup, and boy, it is WAY too big. This is just not acceptable to me, I wouldn't want a bass with a pickup route like this that was so much bigger than the pickup. I'm glad I checked it before I put the router to the new body.... so now I have to make a template myself without so much "slop" in it. Dangnabbit.....


Carving the forearm contour. The body edges have been rounded over as well.


Carving the rear contour.


Side view of roughed in body contours.


Finished routing the p-pickup and neck pocket. Here's an idea of what the bass will look like.


Here's a closeup of the front routing.


And another pic of what the final bass will look like, on a nicer background than a paint stained work bench!


Routing the control cavity


Control Cavity done


Glueing up the control cavity cover with thin strips of Black Limba to match the body


Threaded brass inserts for the control cavity cover screws installed


Checking the fit of the control cavity cover


New matching Black Limba headstock overlay. Thanks to Larry at Gallery Hardwoods for the nice, thin piece of Black Limba for this! Great service there, Larry.


The control cavity and cover all lined with metal foil.

That finishes up this one!